Cellular carton having self-rotating cross partitions



E. E. HOLWICK 2,321,209 CELLULAR CARTON HAVING SELF-ROTATING CROSS PARTITIONS Filed NOV. 12, 1941 Junes, 1943.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR 6M 6' I E. E. HOLWICK L 2 CELLULAR CARTON HAVING SELF-ROTATINQ Y June 8, 1943;

CROSS'PARTITIONSQ Filed Nov.'l2, 1941 INVENTOR.

Patented June 8, 1943 CELLULAR CARTON HAVING SELF-ROTAT- ING CROSS PARTITIONS Earl E. Holwick, Laguna Beach, Calif.

Application November 12, 1941, Serial No. 418,684

22 Claims.

Heretofore cartons have been devised which necessitate machinery or considerable manipulation by hand in order to erect or set up the carton. This expense of machinery, power and time, together with the space required to stack the set up cartons has been of considerable perplexity to the packers of eggs.

The present invention relates specifically to cartons and similar receptacles and more particularly to a structure of the character that is usually employed in connection with the packing and distribution of eggs for the retail market.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide a cellular carton of one piece construction requiring a minimum of material that may be instantly set up or erected by hand.

Another principal object i the production of a carton having means whereby the cross partitions may be automatically rotated from a. horizontal collapsed condition to vertical positions.

An important object is the provision of simple and more efficient means for locking the cover.

Another important object is to provide means whereby the contents such as eggs, may be easily removed.

Another object is to provide novel means for locking the longitudinal partition with the cross partitions in a manner as to prevent unintentional disengagement.

A further object is the provision of means to eliminate the necessity of prebreaking the cover before closing the carton.

A still further object is to provide means whereby the cover may conform with the outer edges of the bottom walls of the succeeding cartons when stacked and enabling the cartons to be packed in standard egg cases without extending above the top of said cases and thereby be transported therein. These and other objects will be apparent from consideration of the following detailed description and by references to the accompanying drawings forminga part thereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of my in- I vention.

Fig. 2 is an end view of two cartons stacked and nestled together, the upper carton being in cross section taken on line 4343 of Fig. 6. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line |l of Fig. 2, with the cover removed and showing the manner in which the cross partition extensions are folded under the horizontal hinge members when the carton is erected.

Fig. 4 is a similar view as that shown in Fig. 3, showing the hooks on the locking strip engaged with the horizontal hinge members on each side of the cross partitions.

Fig. 5 is a view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 2, showing the manner in which the longitudinal partition may be locked to the cross partitions.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary top view of the inner portion of an erected carton with its cover re moved.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 4646 of Fig. 9, showing a modified form of locking the longitudinal and cross partitions together.

Fig. 8 is an end view of a modified carton, showing the longitudinal partition supporting the cover.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view of the front wall and locking strip of an erected carton.

Fig. 10 is an end view of a carton being erected and showing the cross partitions being rotated into erect positions before entering the slots in the longitudinal partition and means for causing said movement.

Fig. 11 is an end view of a further modified carton after erection.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the general shape of the blank piece of paper, cardboard, pasteboard, or the like from which the carton is made, is shown.

A blank is cut, scored, bent, folded and secured to provide in the order named, a locking strip 24, a cover 23, a rear wall 22, a rear bottom section 2|, a rear longitudinal partition section 20, a front longitudinal partition section IS, a front bottom section H, a front wall ill, a cross partition section I5, and an-attaching strip IS.

The blank is scored along the lines 25 to 3|, inclusive, and at 41 and 48, to provide the longitudinal fold lines between the different sections of the carton.

Between the cover 23 and the locking strip 24, and between the cover and the rear wall 22, as indicated at 25 and 26, respectively, are provided a series of alternate scorings on each side of the blank contracted into alternate ridges and furrows, to provide flexibility and to enable the cover of the carton to be closed without prebreaking.

By forming the corrugation at the corners of the carton as better shown in Figure 2, the corrugation will bend and conform with the outer edges of the bottom walls of the succeeding carton in stacking one upon another and thereby nestle together in a manner. as to lower the height of the stack sufliciently as to enable the packed cartons to be transported in the standard gg as s without extending above the top of securing or attaching strip [6.

the case. Another purpose of corrugating the corners of the cover is to make the carton adjustable as to size which will enable the cover to extend upwardly, thereby provide additional space and decrease the possibility of undue pressure which may break large or long eggs. Another purpose for scorin the cover in the manner above described, is the fact, that the fibre is not broken and therefore a certain amount of resiliency has been retained at the corners, which causes the cover and strip to return to their almost normal vertical position when the cover of the carton is opened, and will not lop or droop over the top of the carton and thereby hinder the extraction of the contents.

In order to provide automatic function to the carton, I found it important that all of the dotted lines be scored on the top or inside portion of the blank with the exception of the short line 43 and the line of demarcation 23, between the front and the rear longitudinal partition sections, which are preferably scored inthe bottom or outside portion of the blank. It is also preferred that the reverse side of the blank from which it is scored, are provided with ridges or bosses, so that the blank will bend in the direction of the scoring.

To further provide automatic function and to simplify erection of the carton, it was necessary to provide a means of reducing the depth of the cross partitions below their axis or hinged portion without weakening or lessening their height; to eliminate the possibility of afractional engagement between the movable elements, which may hinder rotation of the cross partitions; to provide a means whereby the cross partitions may be forced to rotate from their horizontal collapsed condition to vertical positions and thereby be held to coincide with slots in the oncoming longitudinal partition.

I have accomplished this, as may be seen in the drawings, by providing the section IS with a plurality of spaced angular transverse cuts 55, which leaves material in the cutting, for upwardly extendable projections or apex El, along the middles of the cross partitions II, which projections may support any usual or suitable cover 23. It will be noted, that in the center of the section l5, cut-outs 53. are provided between the apex and the projections ll of each succeeding cross partition. These cut-outs provide a comparatively wide edge on the top of the cross partitions which have a tendency to prevent the apex from bending when pressure is applied on the cover of the carton.

At one end of the angular transverse cuts 55. are provided trapezoidally shaped cut-outs or cut away portions 52 which extend diagonally from said transverse cuts and into the front wall l3, to a point adjacent the middles between the horizontal hinged members 6. At the opposite ends of the transverse cuts 55, are provided the short trapezoidally shaped cut-outs 5|, that extend to the line of demarcation 41, or top of the These cut-out portions reduce the depth of the cross partitions below their axial lines 2 and 53, about which the said partitions rotate and their horizontal hinge members 6, and thereby prevent the possibility of fractional engagement at the ends of the cross partitions. In the central portion of the cross partitions, I have shown an aperture or opening normally closed in the blank, by the door-like flap ll being hinged by the scoring l2 and ex- I tending upwardly therefrom, the purpose of which will be hereinafter more fully described.

As a simple means whereby the cross partitions may be automatically rotated into erect positions, I have formed an extension or flaplike link 5, which may be employed on one or both ends of the cross partitions. as shown in the drawings. However, I prefer to employ only one of these extension links for each cross partition. as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 8 as being employed between the cross partitions and the front wall, but may be employed satisfactorily between the attaching strip and the cross partitions, this however requires additional material for the securing strip of the carton.

The extension links 5, may be formed of portions of the front wall l3 and the cross partition section IE, 'or may be formed of portions of the cross partitions and the attaching strip Ii, by first drawing diagonal lines from the lower ends of the cut-outs 52 to and intercepting the ends of the axial lines 2 at a point approximately midway between the line of demarcation 43 and the inward point of the horizontal hinge members 6. The upper ends of these lines are then slit as indicated at 3. and the lower ends scored from the top or inner portion of the blank as, indicated at 4. Theblank is then scored on the bottom or outside portion along the line H, which extends approximately midway between the ends of the slits 3 and the cut-outs 52, in a manner as to taper the lower ends of the cross partitions as does the cuts 53 which separates the said partitions from the attaching or securing strip It.

By scoring the lines 2, l and 43, so as to form furrows on the inside portion and bosses on the outside portion of the blank, the carton will naturally have a tendency to bend in the direction of the side furrowed. Likewise, when line 43 is scored and creased in the opposite direction, the bend will follow the course of the least resistance and fold in the direction of the crease. Therefore, by scoring the blank in this manner. any movement or bending of the line of demarcation 43 in the direction of erecting the carton. will cause the extension link 5 to rotate the cross partitions on their axial lines 2 and ill.

Each of the cross partitions are provided with a pair of notches l3, separated by a tongue II, which are situated in the lower central edge thereof. The notches being adapted to receive that portion of the longitudinal partition sections below the slots 32 and 33 when the carton is erected. The tongues I I being designed to spread and hold apart the lower edges of the longitudinal partition sections, whereby to strengthen the carton and enable the carton to snugly hold all sizes of eggs. Each egg, it will be seen, will rest upon or will be supported by a yieldable, inclined longitudinal partition section between the slots 32 and 33, which will bend inwardly upon the insertion of a larger egg and enable the space of each cell to be individually increased accordingly to the size of each egg.

The longitudinal partition sections l3 and 20, are provided with downwardly extendable slots 32 and 33 which are alternately arranged. respectively, throughout the length of the sections. The slots" are of Y-shape when the carton is erected. The slots 33 having a wide mouth to enable easy entrance of the cross partitions, a hook 34 provided with a shoulder 56, extending into said slot from one side. and a projection or hump 35 extending inwardly from the opposite side of said slot below the shoulder 56. The books :4 and the projections as are adapted to cooperate with the flaps l formed alternately in every other cross partition, as will hereinafter be more fully described.

The blank is folded about the scoring 3|, with the front wall IS, the cross partition section l5 and the securing strip l6 lying over the bottom and longitudinal partition sections. The blank is then folded about the scoring 27, with the rear wall 22, the cover 23 and the locking strip 24 lying over the front wall and cross partition section. The securing strip is then secured to the rear wall with glue or other means at the elevation of the front wall. The carton is now in a flattened collapsed condition for shipment.

In the modification shown in Figures '7 and 8,

it will be seen, that the pitch of the angular transverse cuts forming the cross partitions is increased. The longitudinal partition sections and the front and rear walls below their hinged portions are increased in width to enable the carton to collapse along the bottom of the front and rear walls and enable the longitudinal partition to extend to the cover of the carton and thereby support said cover. The longitudinal partition slots in this carton and indicated at 44, have a hook 40 extending across the slot and engaging a slot 51. in the upper portion of the cross partitions.

The further modification shown in It! and II, show a slot 45 in the bottom of the cross partitions for holding the longitudinal partition sections together which enables the front and rear walls to be inwardly inclined. The carton is also provided with the extension flap-links 5 formed on each side of the cross partitions. The cross partitions and the longitudinal partition sections may be interlocked together in the manner as shown in Figure 5 or in the same manner as the carton shown in Fig. 7.

To set up or erect either of these cartons, pressure is applied to the extended edges formed by the scorings 21 and 31. This pressure causes the cart-on walls to be distended toward erect position. As pressure is continued, the tips of the fingers guide the longitudinal partition sections l9 and 20 upwardly and cause the carton to bend along the scorings 28, 29 and 30, and at 41 and 48 along the outer edges of the horizontal hinge members 6 and I. This movement forces the extension links 5 to bend at the scorings 4 and 49 and thereby move the cross partitions l4 in a downwardly direction, while the horizontal hinge members hold the axis of the cross partitions in a fixed position, and thereby'enable the cross partitions to enter the slots of the longitudinal partition sections. As pressure is continued, the projections 35, cause the flaps ill, to bend at the hinge I2 and move under the shoulder 56 under the hook 34, as is better shown in Figures 5, 6 and 10. By locking the longitudinal partition in the manner herein described and illustrated, the cross partitions cannot be disengaged by the weight of the eggs or by the manner in which the carton may be carried. But due to the fact that the ends of the flaps incline outwardly and downwardly, the hooks 34, may be disengaged with the flaps ill, by merely pres-sing forward that portion of the longitudinal partition between the cross partitions, thereby relea'sing the longitudinal partition sections which may be easily pressed downward and into a collapsed condition, enabling the carton to be used over again.

It will be observed, that the horizontal hinge members 6 extend on each side of the cross partitions and their axial lines, as may be seen in Figures 3 and 4, and are entirely separated from the cross partition extension links 5 by the slit 3. The slit enables the extension links to fold back and under the hinge member 6, so that the hooks 38 on the tabs 31 of the locking strip 24, may engage the horizontal hinge members on each side of the cross partitions, as shown in Fig. 4, thereby prevent unintentional disengagement of the cover of the carton. It may be noted .also,

that the axial line about which the cross partitions rotate, are approximately in the vertical center, which enables the said partitions to rotate above the longitudinal partition before entering the slots therein.

In Figures 3 and 9, it will be seen, that the extension links 5, cooperate with the cut-outs 52, in providing the tapered recesses 42, extending downwardly in the front wall between the horizontal hinge members 6, which reduces the height of the front wall in front of the cells, and enables easy removal of the contents without breakage. To remove the contents from the rear row of cells, it is only necessary to press forward that portion of the longitudinal partition between the cross partitions.

By the tongues II and the notches 13 holding the longitudinal partition sections apart at their lower edges, the bottom walls and longitudinal partition sections are being held in the form of an inverted Y in end view and the carton is rigidly braced through its longitudinal center, not only by said partitions, but by the angles formed by the bends along the lines 21 and 3|.

To facilitate easy manipulation of the carton, spaced cuts along the scored dividing lines 21, 28, 29, 30 and 3| may also be employed.

By forming the carton in the manner described and illustrated, considerable material may be saved, not only by rounding the longitudinal corners of the cover, but by lowering the depth of the cross partitions below their horizontal hinge members, which decreases the distance the cross partitions extend beyond the edges of the blank. The projecting ends of the cross partitions, can however, be cut off entirely, by continuing the edges of the blank on a straight line, without decreasing the efficiency or action of the carton.

It may be seen by the foregoing description and by the accompanying drawings, that I have economically provided a sturdy, compact carton of singular construction, which may be erected by a single movement of the hands.

While I have illustrated and described with particularly preferred forms of my invention, and

' as the carton may have considerable variations without departing from the spirit of my invention, I do not desire to be limited to the exact structural details thus illustrated and described; but intend to cover all forms and arrangements which come within the definitions of my invention constituting the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A blank for a carton comprising a sheet cut. scored, folded and secured to produce a shell having continuous bottom and longitudinal partition sections, a rear wall, a front wall, cross partitions hinged to said walls, and links extending between and connecting the lower ends of said cross partitions and walls and below the hinged portions.

2. A blank for a carton comprising a sheet cut, scored, folded and secured to produce a shell having continuous bottom and longitudinal partition sections, a rear wall, a front wall, cross partitions hinged to said walls, and links extcnding between and connected to the lower ends of said partitions and front wall and below the hinged portions.

3. A blank for a carton comprising a sheet cut, scored, folded and secured to produce a shell having continuous bottom and longitudinal partition sections, a front wall, a rear. wall, cross partitions hinged to said walls, cut-outs providing spaces between the ends of said partitions and the hinge portions of the succeeding partitions whereby to shorten the height of said partitions, and links extending between and connected to the lower ends of said partitions and front wall.

4. A blank for a carton comprising a sheet out,

scored, folded and secured .to produce a shell having continuous bottom and longitudinal partition sections, transverse slots in said longitudinal partition sections, a rear wall, a front wall, cross partitions hinged to said walls, links extending between and connecting the lower ends of said partitions and front wall on each side of their line of demarcation below their hinged portions, said links being scored on their lines of connection in a manner as to provide furrows and ridges on each side of said blank, said links adapted to rotate said partitions to vertical positions whereby to coincide with said slots upon movement of said front wall.

5. A blank for a carton comprising a sheet cut, scored and folded to produce a shell having continuous bottom and longitudinal partition sections, a front wall and a strip including cross partitions extending between and hinged thereto and lying over said sections, a rear wall and cover portion lying over said partitions and front wall in a horizontal collapsed condition, and links extending between and connected to the' lower ends of said partitions and rear wall, said links adapted to automatically rotate said partitions from said horizontal collapsed condition to vertical positions above said sections upon movement of said walls.

6. A carton comprising a blank cut, scored and folded, having front and rear walls, cross partitions hinged to said walls, cushion forming bottom sections including longitudinal partition sections having slots registering with said partitions, central openings in said partitions, doorlike flaps formed in said openings for engaging said slots, and projections in said slots adapted to engage said flaps.

7. A carton comprising a blank cut, scored and,

folded, having front and rear walls, cross partitions hinged to said walls, cushion forming bottom sections including longitudinal partition sections having slots registering with said partitions, flaps formed in the center of said partitions engaging said slots, humps in said slots for rotating said flaps, and projections in said slots having shoulders for engaging said flaps, said humps adapted to hold said flaps in fixed relation with said shoulders and thereby to prevent collapse of said carton.

8. A carton comprising a blank cut, scored and folded, having front and rear walls, cross partitions hinged to said walls, cushion forming bottom sections including longitudinal partition sections having slots for receiving said partitions, hinged flaps formed in the central portion of said partitions for engaging said slots, elements in said slots for engaging said flaps and a pair of notches in the lower edges of each cross partition for holding said bottom and longitudinal partition forming sections in the form of an inverted Y. a

9. A carton having front and rear walls, cross partitions hinged at their ends to said walls. extension links moveably connecting the lower ends of said partitions to said walls, cushion forming bottom sections including longitudinal partition sections having slots registering with said partitions, a plurality of said partitions being of Y-shape to provide easy entrance thereto, and slots alternately arranged between said Y-shaped slots being provided with inwardly extended shoulders on one side and projections on the other side whereby to receive, engage and force movement of elements formedin the corresponding cross partitions into locking engagement with said shoulders, said elements consisting of hinged flaps extending upwardly in openings in the said partitions.

10. A carton comprising a blank cut, scored and folded, having front and rear walls, cross partitions hinged to said walls, links connecting the lower ends of said partitions to said front wall, cushion forming bottom sections includin longitudinal partition sections having slots registering with said partitions, a plurality of said slots being of Y-shape to provide easy entrance thereto, the slots alternately disposed between said Y-shaped slots being provided with elements on each side thereof, and the cross partitions corresponding with the last mentioned slots being provided with hinged flaps formed therein and adapted to be engaged in fixed relation with said elements whereby t lock said carton in its distended position.

11. A carton comprising a blank cut, scored and folded, having front and rear walls, cross partitions hinged to said walls, extension links movably connecting the lower ends of said partitions to said front wall, cushion forming bottom sections including longitudinal partition sections having slots registering with said partitions, flaps formed in said partitions for engaglng elements in said slots, and projections extending downwardly between said longitudinal partition sections whereby to provide flexibility to the longitudinal partition panels between said cross partitions and thereby enable all sizes of eggs to be held firmly in their cells.

12. A carton. comprising a blank cut, scored and folded to form front and rear walls, cross partitions hinged to said walls, links connecting the lower ends of said partitions to said front wall, cushion forming bottom sections including longitudinal partition sections having slots registering with said partitions, a cover connected to said rear wall, a locking strip connected to said cover, the hinge members connecting said partitions to said walls provide an axis on which said partitions rotate, said axis extending adjacent the vertical center of said partitions, the

rear hinge members extending on one side of said partitions, and the hinge members connecting said partitions to said front wall being shaped to straddle and extend on each side of said partitions and thereby be interlocked with oppositely-disposed hooks on said strip, and the points at which said cover is connected to said rear wall and strip being scored in a manner as to provide ridges and furrows on each side of the blank whereby to provide resiliency to said cover thereby enabling said cover to return to an upright position and to eliminate the necessity of prebreaking the cover at said points in closing said carton.

13. A carton comprising a blank cut, scored and folded to provide front and rear walls,

cross partitions hinged to said walls, front and rear bottom sections including longitudinal partition sections having slots for receiving said partitions, flaps formed in said partitions for engaging said slots, recesses formed in said front wall between two adjacent cross partitions, and extension links connecting the lower ends of said partitions to said front wall within said recesses and adapted to rotate said partitions into erect positions upon movement of said walls.

14. A carton having front and rear walls, cross partitions provided with hinge members connected to said walls, front and rear bottom sections including an upwardly extendable longitudinal partition having slots for receiving said cross partitions, extension links connected to the lower edges of said cross partitions and to the said front wall below its hinged portion and adapted to automatically rotate said partitions from horizontal collapsed condition to vertical positions whereby to enter said slots upon movement of the walls of the carton, said partitions and slots having means of cooperation for suspending said bottom and longitudinal partition in the form of an inverted Y, and recesses formed in said front wall to enable easy removal of the contents in the front row of cells.

15. The combination with a carton consisting of a blank cut, creased, folded and secured o form a cover, front and rear walls, of cross partitions having horizontal hinge members connecting their ends to the top of the front wall and to the rear wall at the elevation of the front wall, movable links connecting the lower ends of said partitions to said front wall and adapted to fold beneath said horizontal hinge members. cushion forming bottom sections including longitudinal partitions sections having transverse slots for receiving said partitions, hinged flaps formed in said partitions for engaging said longitudinal partition sections within said slots. recesses formed in the upper portion of the said front wall between each two horizontal hinge members, and oppositely-disposed hooks on said cover adapted to extend between and engage said horizontal hinge members on each side of said recesses.

16. A blank for a carton comprising a body portion scored in the direction of its length to provide a cover, a rear wall, a rear bottom section, a rear longitudinal partition section, a front longitudinal partition section, a front bottom section, a front wall, a cross partition bearing section, and a strip adapted to be secured to the rear wall at the elevation of the front wall, the last mentioned section being cut traversely to provide a series of cross partitions. hinge members connecting said partitions to said front wall and strip, cut-outs struck from the blank between the said hinge members and the lower corners of each succeeding partition, said cut-outs adjacent the front ends of said partitions extending diagonally into said front wall. scored and slit lines extending diagonally from the ends of said cut-outs in said front Wall to the hin e members of said succeeding partitions, respectively. and angularly disposed scorings extending into said cross partition bearing section from said slits to said cut-outs resulting in triangular links on the lower ends of said partitions.

17. A carton comprising a blank cut, scored,

folded and secured to form front and rear walls, cross partitions hinged to said walls, central openings in said partitions, flaps hinged to the lower edge of said openings, front and rear bottom sections including longitudinal partition sections having slots for receiving said partitions, said bottom and longitudinal partition sections being drawn up above the lower edges of said walls and suspended in such condition by ongagement with said flaps.

18. A carton having front and rear walls, front and rear bottom sections including longitudinal partition sections having transverse slots therethrough, cross partitions hinged to said walls and extending into said slots, central openings in said partitions, flaps connected to the lower edge of said openings and engaging each side of said slots, said flaps and slots being shaped in a manner as to enable the longitudinal partition to be shifted to one side thereby to increase the width of the cells to facilitate easy removal of the contents of the carton.

19. A collapsible carton having front and rear walls, front and rear bottom sections including longitudinal partition sections provided with transverse slots, cross partitions hinged to said walls and vertically disposed within said slots, flaps formed in and entirely surrounded by the material of said partitions, links connecting the lower ends of said partitions and said walls, said bottom and longitudinal partition sections being drawn up above the surface on which said carton is positioned and suspended in such condition by engagement with said flaps, said carton may be collapsed by disengaging said flaps by a forward movement of the longitudinal partition and a downward movement of said longitudinal partition will fold said carton into a flattened condition along the lower edges of said walls.

20. A blank for a carton comprising a sheet cut, scored, folded and secured to produce a shell having continuous bottom and longitudinal partition sections, a rear wall, a front wall, cross partitions hinged to said walls, and links connecting the lower ends of said partitions and rear wall below the elevation of the hinged portions.

21. A cellular carton having front and rear walls, cross partitions hinged to said walls, links connecting the lower ends of said partitions and a wall of the carton, and a slit separating said links and that portion by which said partitions are hinged to said wall, the edges of said slit being normally together in straight parallel lines and spaced apart in. oppositely bent lines when said carton is erected.

22. A blank for a carton comprising a sheet cut, creased, folded and secured to produce a shell having continuous bottom and longitudinal partition sections, transverse slots in said longi tudinal partition sections, a rear wall, a front wall, cross partitions hinged to said walls, links connecting the lower ends of said partitions and walls, said cross partitions, bottom and longitudinal partition sections being arranged to be distended-in erect position by the movement of said walls, and means of cooperation between said cross partitions and slots operative upon said movement for locking the elements in their distended positions.

EARL E. HOLWICK. 

